[Cracked Sidewalks]Gardner signs in France after one of greatest Value Add runs at MU

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

Gardner signs in France after one of greatest Value Add runs at MU

Davante Gardner, who was the 55th best Value Add player in the country his junior season and still in the top 4% of all players his senior season, has signed a pro contract in France.

Gardner's sophomore year was the 32nd best of any Marquette player. Only four Marquette players matched three years at that level - Travis Diener, Lazar Hayward, Dominic James (now Dominic Wright) and Wesley Matthews.

Dwyane Wade's 2003 was the best of any player, when he had the 7th best season in the 12-year history of the Value Add database. Travis Diener had three of Marquette's top 10 seasons, and Jimmy Butler had two of Marquette's top 10 seasons.

I first saw Davante Gardner when I flew to Marquette for the Notre Dame game which he took as his visit from my native Virginia, and loved his play for all four years - believing he became easily Marquette's best player. We wish him and Jamil Wilson, who is fighting to become Marquette's 37th NBA player, the best of luck.

Below are the players with the top 50 Value Add seasons for Marquette, with notes on their pro careers after Marquette. Dwight Buycks' best season was actually the 56th best, but we include him as an honorable mention since he played in the NBA last year.

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<table class="tableizer-table"><tbody><tr class="tableizer-firstrow"><th>Top 50 MU Seasons</th><th>Player</th><th>Value Add</th><th>Year</th><th>Pro career after Marquette?</th></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>Acker, Maurice</td><td>5.08</td><td>2010</td><td>France is 6th pro country</td></tr><tr><td>38</td><td>Barro, Ousmane</td><td>3.34</td><td>2007</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>39</td><td>Barro, Ousmane</td><td>2.95</td><td>2008</td><td>Romania is 6th pro country</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Blue, Vander</td><td>4.02</td><td>2013</td><td>3 NBA Games with Celtics</td></tr><tr><td>45</td><td>Blue, Vander</td><td>2.64</td><td>2012</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Butler, Jimmy</td><td>7.79</td><td>2010</td><td>87 NBA Starts with Bulls</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Butler, Jimmy</td><td>6.37</td><td>2011</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>42</td><td>Butler, Jimmy</td><td>2.81</td><td>2009</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HM (56)</td><td>Buycks, Dwight</td><td>1.73</td><td>2011</td><td>14 NBA games with raptors</td></tr><tr><td>37</td><td>Cadougan, Junior</td><td>3.36</td><td>2013</td><td>Canadian National Team</td></tr><tr><td>49</td><td>Cadougan, Junior</td><td>2.46</td><td>2012</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>31</td><td>Chapman, Joe</td><td>3.7</td><td>2006</td><td>Japan</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Crowder, Jae</td><td>11.12</td><td>2012</td><td>24 NBA starts, 156 games for Mavs</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Crowder, Jae</td><td>5.83</td><td>2011</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>36</td><td>Cubillan, David</td><td>3.44</td><td>2007</td><td>Brief Israel contracts</td></tr><tr><td>40</td><td>Cubillan, David</td><td>2.94</td><td>2010</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>47</td><td>Cubillan, David</td><td>2.5</td><td>2008</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Diener, Travis</td><td>9.31</td><td>2004</td><td>21 NBA Starts with Pacers, 179 games</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Diener, Travis</td><td>8.92</td><td>2005</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Diener, Travis</td><td>6.53</td><td>2003</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>43</td><td>Fitzgerald, Dan</td><td>2.76</td><td>2007</td><td>Spanish team is 8th pro team</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Gardner, Davante</td><td>6.13</td><td>2013</td><td>France - just signed</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>Gardner, Davante</td><td>4.75</td><td>2014</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>32</td><td>Gardner, Davante</td><td>3.54</td><td>2012</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Hayward, Lazar</td><td>6.49</td><td>2010</td><td>72 NBA games with Wolves and Thunder</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Hayward, Lazar</td><td>5.52</td><td>2009</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>Hayward, Lazar</td><td>4.9</td><td>2008</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>Jackson, Robert</td><td>4.77</td><td>2003</td><td>None known</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>James, Dominic</td><td>5.69</td><td>2006</td><td>French career ended in 2013, name now Dominic Wright</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>James, Dominic</td><td>5.33</td><td>2008</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>James, Dominic</td><td>4.28</td><td>2007</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>James, Dominic</td><td>3.72</td><td>2009</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>Johnson-Odom, Darius</td><td>5.26</td><td>2012</td><td>7 NBA games for Lakers, 76ers</td></tr><tr><td>35</td><td>Johnson-Odom, Darius</td><td>3.46</td><td>2011</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>46</td><td>Johnson-Odom, Darius</td><td>2.56</td><td>2010</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>50</td><td>Lockett, Trent</td><td>2.36</td><td>2013</td><td>Top German League, D-League Select</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Matthews, Wesley</td><td>6.19</td><td>2009</td><td>321 NBA starts Jazz and Blazers, 14.0 ppg</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>Matthews, Wesley</td><td>3.92</td><td>2007</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>Matthews, Wesley</td><td>3.84</td><td>2008</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>McNeal, Jerel</td><td>5.66</td><td>2009</td><td>Spanish team is 7th pro team</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>McNeal, Jerel</td><td>5.41</td><td>2008</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>33</td><td>McNeal, Jerel</td><td>3.5</td><td>2007</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>48</td><td>McNeal, Jerel</td><td>2.47</td><td>2006</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>Merritt, Scott</td><td>3.73</td><td>2003</td><td>Japan</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Novak, Steve</td><td>7.46</td><td>2006</td><td>414 NBA games, 2085 points</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>Novak, Steve</td><td>4.65</td><td>2005</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>34</td><td>Novak, Steve</td><td>3.49</td><td>2004</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>41</td><td>Novak, Steve</td><td>2.85</td><td>2003</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Wade, Dwyane</td><td>11.4</td><td>2003</td><td>710 NBA Starts, 24.3 ppg, 6.0 ast, 5.0 reb, 1.8 stl, 1.0 blk</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Wilson, Jamil</td><td>4.2</td><td>2013</td><td>signs with Suns, trying to make team</td></tr><tr><td>44</td><td>Wilson, Jamil</td><td>2.73</td><td>2012</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Source: Gardner signs in France after one of greatest Value Add runs at MU

[bamamarquettefan]

my endless battles with tables from Cracked Sidewalks translating to MU Scoop!

Top 50 MU Seasons   Player   Value Add   Year   Pro career after Marquette?
19   Acker, Maurice   5.08   2010   France is 6th pro country
38   Barro, Ousmane   3.34   2007   
39   Barro, Ousmane   2.95   2008   Romania is 6th pro country
26   Blue, Vander   4.02   2013   3 NBA Games with Celtics
45   Blue, Vander   2.64   2012   
5   Butler, Jimmy   7.79   2010   87 NBA Starts with Bulls
9   Butler, Jimmy   6.37   2011   
42   Butler, Jimmy   2.81   2009   
HM (56)   Buycks, Dwight   1.73   2011   14 NBA games with raptors
37   Cadougan, Junior   3.36   2013   Canadian National Team
49   Cadougan, Junior   2.46   2012   
31   Chapman, Joe   3.7   2006   Japan
2   Crowder, Jae   11.12   2012   24 NBA starts, 156 games for Mavs
12   Crowder, Jae   5.83   2011   
36   Cubillan, David   3.44   2007   Brief Israel contracts
40   Cubillan, David   2.94   2010   
47   Cubillan, David   2.5   2008   
3   Diener, Travis   9.31   2004   21 NBA Starts with Pacers, 179 games
4   Diener, Travis   8.92   2005   
7   Diener, Travis   6.53   2003   
43   Fitzgerald, Dan   2.76   2007   Spanish team is 8th pro team
11   Gardner, Davante   6.13   2013   France - just signed
22   Gardner, Davante   4.75   2014   
32   Gardner, Davante   3.54   2012   
8   Hayward, Lazar   6.49   2010   72 NBA games with Wolves and Thunder
15   Hayward, Lazar   5.52   2009   
20   Hayward, Lazar   4.9   2008   
21   Jackson, Robert   4.77   2003   None known
13   James, Dominic   5.69   2006   French career ended in 2013, name now Dominic Wright
17   James, Dominic   5.33   2008   
24   James, Dominic   4.28   2007   
30   James, Dominic   3.72   2009   
18   Johnson-Odom, Darius   5.26   2012   7 NBA games for Lakers, 76ers
35   Johnson-Odom, Darius   3.46   2011   
46   Johnson-Odom, Darius   2.56   2010   
50   Lockett, Trent   2.36   2013   Top German League, D-League Select
10   Matthews, Wesley   6.19   2009   321 NBA starts Jazz and Blazers, 14.0 ppg
27   Matthews, Wesley   3.92   2007   
28   Matthews, Wesley   3.84   2008   
14   McNeal, Jerel   5.66   2009   Spanish team is 7th pro team
16   McNeal, Jerel   5.41   2008   
33   McNeal, Jerel   3.5   2007   
48   McNeal, Jerel   2.47   2006   
29   Merritt, Scott   3.73   2003   Japan
6   Novak, Steve   7.46   2006   414 NBA games, 2085 points
23   Novak, Steve   4.65   2005   
34   Novak, Steve   3.49   2004   
41   Novak, Steve   2.85   2003   
1   Wade, Dwyane   11.4   2003   710 NBA Starts, 24.3 ppg, 6.0 ast, 5.0 reb, 1.8 stl, 1.0 blk
25   Wilson, Jamil   4.2   2013   signs with Suns, trying to make team
44   Wilson, Jamil   2.73   2012   

[willie warrior]

What--Sultan--where is Otule on this list?

[bamamarquettefan]

Wow, you must have read my mind. Believe it or not, here are the next five best seasons:

51   Otule, Chris   2.06   2013
52   Jackson, Marcus   1.88   2005
53   Acker, Maurice   1.82   2009
54   Mayo, Todd   1.82   2014
55   Fulce, Joseph   1.75   2010

Watching him dunk against Miami to make it a 22-point lead or whatever it was, remains a high point, along with many many wonderful swats including the one that should have beaten Louisville YUM.

[Knight Commission]

So let me get this straight. Marcus Jackson had a higher Value Add in 2005 than Jamil Wilson did in his Senior Year?

[UticaBusBarn]

Bama, as always, well done. Thank you.

In what seems to be the longest off season ever, it is great to see one of your fact based posts. Yours is such a refreshing break from the innuendo, half-baked stories, made-up stuff, baseless opinions, life tales, and claimed basketball credentials/insight, that I believe you should have your own board.

You might want to call it "Truth, or Consequences" and you decide the consequences. For instance, shooting 2,000 free throws in the old gym late in the late afternoon might be one of the "consequences" for a dumb post lacking any factual basis.  javascript:void(0);

[GGGG]

nm

[77ncaachamps]

This should pretty much end that "Gardner vs Blue" Thread:

26   Blue, Vander   4.02   2013   3 NBA Games with Celtics
45   Blue, Vander   2.64   2012 

11   Gardner, Davante   6.13   2013   France - just signed
22   Gardner, Davante   4.75   2014   
32   Gardner, Davante   3.54   2012 

[ChicosBailBonds]

This should pretty much end that "Gardner vs Blue" Thread:

26   Blue, Vander   4.02   2013   3 NBA Games with Celtics
45   Blue, Vander   2.64   2012 

11   Gardner, Davante   6.13   2013   France - just signed
22   Gardner, Davante   4.75   2014   
32   Gardner, Davante   3.54   2012 

I get Vander for 3 years and he plays guard, I can get a really good guard to replace him.

Or I get DG for four years and he plays the 4, where I've always had trouble getting solid 4's. 

I'm taking DG.   More overall production for a longer period time at a position that is much harder to replace.

[GGGG]

This should pretty much end that "Gardner vs Blue" Thread:

26   Blue, Vander   4.02   2013   3 NBA Games with Celtics
45   Blue, Vander   2.64   2012 

11   Gardner, Davante   6.13   2013   France - just signed
22   Gardner, Davante   4.75   2014   
32   Gardner, Davante   3.54   2012 

You mean the thread that actually *did* end over two weeks ago?

[Dr. Blackheart]

I get Vander for 3 years and he plays guard, I can get a really good guard to replace him.

Or I get DG for four years and he plays the 4, where I've always had trouble getting solid 4's. 

I'm taking DG.   More overall production for a longer period time at a position that is much harder to replace.

I thought it was a guard's game?  MU will really miss the big fella. MU hoops also missed Blue as seen in DG's digression his senior year (but still excellent).

[ChicosBailBonds]

I thought it was a guard's game?  MU will really miss the big fella. MU hoops also missed Blue as seen in DG's digression his senior year (but still excellent).

That's exactly right and supports my point.  I can replace a very good guard with another very good guard much more easily.  I can't replace a very good power forward very easily. 

DG's digression had as much to do with Jamil Wilson's poor production as well as Burt being a useful idiot.

[314warrior]

Did I miss something about DJ changing his last name to Wright?

[GGGG]

Did I miss something about DJ changing his last name to Wright?

Yes.

http://www.foxsports.com/south/story/ex-marquette-star-james-looking-to-make-new-name-for-himself-031914

[314warrior]

Yes.

http://www.foxsports.com/south/story/ex-marquette-star-james-looking-to-make-new-name-for-himself-031914

Thanks

[77ncaachamps]

You mean the thread that actually *did* end over two weeks ago?

Are you sure?!

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Yes.

http://www.foxsports.com/south/story/ex-marquette-star-james-looking-to-make-new-name-for-himself-031914

Was just asking myself the same question.  Thanks Sultan.

[MU82]

Yes.

http://www.foxsports.com/south/story/ex-marquette-star-james-looking-to-make-new-name-for-himself-031914

That's what jumped out at me as I read this thread, too. Glad I was able to get something of value out of it.

[Aughnanure]

That's exactly right and supports my point.  I can replace a very good guard with another very good guard much more easily.  I can't replace a very good power forward very easily. 

This. This. This.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Did I miss something about DJ changing his last name to Wright?

Pretty sure he also changed the pronunciation of his first name so it sounded like Dominique Wilkins. Strange dude.

[ATL MU Warrior]

That's exactly right and supports my point.  I can replace a very good guard with another very good guard much more easily.  I can't replace a very good power forward very easily. 

DG's digression had as much to do with Jamil Wilson's poor production as well as Burt being a useful idiot.

And how did that theory work out this past year?